The Templars' Last Secret

When a woman's body is found at the foot of a cliff near St. Denis, Bruno suspects a connection to the great ruin that stands on the cliff above: the Chateau de Commarque, a long-ago Knights Templar stronghold that, along with the labyrinth of prehistoric caves beneath it, continues to draw the interest of scholars. With the help of Amelie, a young newcomer to the Dordogne, Bruno learns that the dead woman was an archaeologist searching for a religious artifact of incredible importance.

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor: A Royal Spyness Novella

At the end of her first unsuccessful season out in society, Lady Georgiana has all but given up on attracting a suitable man - until she receives an invitation to a masked Halloween ball at Broxley Manor. Georgie is uncertain why she was invited, until she learns that the royal family intends to marry her off to a foreign prince, one reputed to be mad.

Still Life: Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 1

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter.

Magpie Murders: A Novel

When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel, she has no reason to think it will be much different from any of his others. After working with the best-selling crime writer for years, she's intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. An homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Alan's traditional formula has proved hugely successful.

The Raphael Affair: Art History Mysteries, Book 1

When Jonathan Argyll is arrested for breaking into an obscure church in Rome, he claims that it contains a long-lost Raphael hidden under a painting by Mantini. The painting disappears - then reappears in the hands of the top British art dealer, Edward Byrnes. How has Byrnes found out about the hidden masterpiece, and whom is he acting for? There is also the curious matter of the safe deposit box full of sketches closely resembling features of the newly discovered painting.

Killed at the Whim of a Hat

Jimm Juree was a crime reporter for the Chiang Mai Daily Mail with a somewhat eccentric family. When she is forced to follow her family to a rural village on the coast of Southern Thailand, she’s convinced her career—maybe her life—is over. So when a van containing the skeletal remains of two hippies is inexplicably unearthed in a local farmer’s field, Jimm is thrilled. Shortly thereafter an abbot at a local Buddhist temple is viciously murdered.

A Quiet Life in the Country: A Lady Hardcastle Mystery, Book 1

Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and confidante, is an expert in martial arts. The year is 1908 and they've just moved from London to the country, hoping for a quiet life. But it is not long before Lady Hardcastle is forced out of her self-imposed retirement. There's a dead body in the woods, and the police are on the wrong scent. Lady Hardcastle makes some enquiries of her own, and it seems she knows a surprising amount about crime investigation...

The Coroners Lunch

Laos, 1972. The Communist Pathet Lao has taken over. Most of the educated class has fled, but 72-year-old Dr Siri Paiboun, a Paris-trained doctor, remains and is appointed state coroner. When three bodies are recovered from a reservoir, Dr.Siri establishes the cause of death was not drowning - they seem to have been electrocuted. And then there is the inexplicable death of a Party bigwig's wife at a banquet. Dr.Siri doesn't think her death was from natural causes.

Jar City

A man is found murdered in his Reykjavik flat. There are no obvious clues apart from a cryptic note left on the body and a photograph of a young girl's grave. Delving into the dead man's life Detective Erlendur discovers that 40 years ago he was accused of an appalling crime, but never convicted. Had his past come back to haunt him? As Erlendur struggles to build a relationship with his unhappy daughter, his investigation takes him to Iceland's Genetic Research Centre, where he uncovers disturbing secrets that are even darker than the murder of an old man.

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel

Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, her eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs - the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store's overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey McGinty, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore's back room, Lydia's life comes unglued.

Cherringham - A Cosy Crime Series Compilation (Cherringham 1 - 3)

Jack's a retired ex-cop from New York, seeking the simple life in Cherringham. Sarah's a Web designer who's moved back to the village find herself. But their lives are anything but quiet as the two team up to solve Cherringham's criminal mysteries. This compilation contains episodes 1 - 3: MURDER ON THAMES, MYSTERY AT THE MANOR and MURDER BY MOONLIGHT.

The Sunday Philosophy Club: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery

New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith, winner of the first-ever Saga Award for Wit, has entertained millions with his beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries. Now this phenomenally popular author introduces a fresh series, brimming with the charm and humor his stable of dedicated fans can't get enough of.

Crime on the Fens: DI Nikki Galena, Book 1

DI Nikki Galena: A police detective with nothing left to lose, she's seen a girl die in her arms, and her daughter will never leave the hospital again. She's gotten tough on the criminals she believes did this to her. Too tough. And now she's been given one final warning: make it work with her new sergeant, DS Joseph Easter, or she's out.

The Blood Strand: Foroyar Triology, Book 1

Jan Reyna is a murder squad detective, British by adoption and choice, Faroese by birth and history. Called back to the remote Danish Faroe Islands when his father suffers a paralysing stroke, Reyna is forced to reexamine his decades-long rejection of the past and of his father in particular. But in this now-foreign country, whose language and customs he no longer understands, Reyna is also drawn into a rare Faroese murder case.

When It Grows Dark

Stavern, 1983. After a brutal robbery, a young policeman named William Wisting is edged off the investigation by more experienced officers, but soon he is on another case that has not even been recognised as murder. Forgotten in a dilapidated barn stands a bullet-riddled old car, and it looks as if the driver did not get out alive. This case will shape William Wisting as a policeman and give him insight that he will carry with him for the rest of his career.

Raven Black: Book One of the Shetland Island Quartet

It is a cold January morning, and Shetland lies beneath a deep layer of snow. Trudging home, Fran Hunter's eye is drawn to a splash of color on the frozen ground, ravens circling above. It is the strangled body of her teenage neighbor, Catherine Ross. The locals on the quiet island stubbornly focus their gaze on one man - loner and simpleton Magnus Tait.

The Face of a Stranger: A William Monk Novel #1

A tragic accident leaves Inspector Monk with amnesia just moments after he solves the murder of a popular Crimean war hero. Forced to redo his entire investigation, a frustrated Monk faces a desperate murderer who will do anything to keep the inspector from discovering the truth twice.

The Third Girl: Molly Sutton Mysteries, Book 1

Meet Molly Sutton, 38 years old and out of work, who moves to a village in France to recover from the end of her marriage. She's looking for peace, beautiful gardens, and pastry - a slower, safer life than the one she'd been living outside of Boston. But you know what they say about the best intentions.... Molly has barely gotten over jet-lag before she hears about a local student's disappearance. In between getting her old ramshackle house in order and reveling in French food, Molly ends up embroiled in the case, along with the gendarmes of Castillac.

Publisher's Summary

Bruno is a former soldier who has embraced the pleasures and slow rhythms of country life - living in his restored shepherd's cottage; patronizing the weekly market; sparring with, and basically ignoring, the European Union bureaucrats from Brussels.

He has a gun but never wears it; he has the power to arrest but never uses it. But then the murder of an elderly North African who fought in the French army changes everything and galvanizes Bruno's attention: the man was found with a swastika carved into his chest. Bruno soon discovers that even his seemingly perfect corner of la belle France is not exempt from that period's sinister legacy.

This mystery/crime novel is very evocative of France, french history and country life. But, it is not a cozy, gentle story. Drugs, sex, violent crime, war crimes and vengeance makes for quite the mix. This balanced out with artful descriptions of local food, markets, picnics, dinner parties, gardening and keeping chickens! Bruno is a busy, complex, and smart multi talented chief of police. But, I agree with a previous reviewer--the narrator ought to have given him a French voice--the British accent was a bit confusing. Worth a listen--but don't go into it looking for a warm and cozy mystery. In reality, it is a look into a dark aspect of France in WWII.

Historical fiction with a unique protagonist and at realistic fictitious plot that includes criminal activity and great detective collaboration!!This is what I live for in listening to a book.Bruno was a switch for me, as well. I look forward to following him through parts of French history that have occurred during my lifetime and that I was totally uninformed about.After reading a lot of British, Irish, Russian and other novels of this genre, the French is new to me. There are nuances of the culture and the language, even in translation, that I look forward to getting used to.I never get great marks for my reviews, but I love expressing my thoughts anyway!!! Yay, Bruno!!

Bruno, "Chief of Police, " is the only police officer in his small village, located in a sleepy valley of France. A former soldier who was wounded in Kosovo, he loves the quiet little village which has adopted him as one of its own. He teaches the young children to play tennis and Rugby, and sometimes coaches the village Rugby team. He knows almost everyone of the locals, and they know and trust him. Rather like the village constable in a classic British mystery.

But an elderly Algerian Frenchman resident is murdered and various clues indicate that his death is somehow connected to WW II, Vichy France, Nazism, and the Franco - Algerian troops from that time period. Officers from the National Police arrive in the village to investigate the crime, and Bruno is put in the position of assisting the investigation while trying not to release the secrets of the villagers about activities which are not, strictly speaking, legal.

Other reviewers have compared this book to some of the stories of Alexander McCall Smith. There is a calmness and gentleness to the telling of Bruno's story that is reminiscent of Smith's tales. However, I find Walker's writing, characters and plotting the more interesting and engaging of the two. The plot is interesting enough to keep you engaged, the characters are well fleshed out and likeable, and the writing style takes you along gently. Narrator Robert Ian MacKenzie brings story and characters beautifully to life.

All in all, a most pleasant experience. I expect to read more from this series.

Would you consider the audio edition of Bruno, Chief of Police to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I imagine so. The narration was excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed reading a mystery that was longer on human interest, interactions and history than on violence. It has its' shocking places, but I like reading about a character that uses patience, humor, and his sense of truth rather than one who is out committing more violence him(her)self in the name of finding criminals. This book had good human appeal and the story was filled with interesting information about the area of Perigord, in France.

Which scene was your favorite?

Actually, several of the scenes that were side issues to the mystery, but dealt with the charm and interest of the people and the area. I'd enjoy re-reading those parts.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction, but it held my interest, and moved back and forth between character exchanges and fact-finding scenes.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend it to people who don't like a lot of violent action, but enjoy a good mystery that is not "fluff."

Martin Walker mentions, in the course of this novel, that there are little memorials to the 20th-century war dead all over France, evoking memories of a plaque my husband spotted on the outer wall of an elementary school in a quiet side street in Paris when we were visiting this past May. It listed three or four teachers and about fifteen students of the school, all Jewish, who perished, presumably in concentration camps, around 1942. It was deeply disturbing and saddening to imagine that in one of the world's major centers of civilized thought and culture the school was unable, or even unwilling, to keep its pupils safe.

The crimes of the Vichy government loom large in this mystery, as does the Franco-Algerian War and its veterans. I love mysteries that not only take me to distant places but give me an unexpected window into a specific time in history that I would be unlikely to otherwise encounter, and this one does that splendidly, thanks, in part, to its narrator. I also tend to note how appropriate the accents of various characters are, but hearing the title character voiced with an Oxonian inflection didn't really bother me that much, as he himself is a highly literate man. The food, wine, and landscape of the novel are enchanting, and I look forward to meeting many of the characters again in future installments of the series.

<br/><br/>Besides how entertaining and evocative of life in southern France, I found Martin Walker's book to be incredibly timely, given the recent turmoil in France (Charlie Hebdo). The historical accounts of French Resistance fighters, and Vichy and gestapo police, were enlightening and handled with a well-balanced objectivity...the author's journalism background does him proud. Furthermore, Bruno is an entertaining protagonist, albeit a little too good to be true, and some scenes make me groan for their obvious "guy's point of view", but, hey-that can be instructive, too. All in all, a terrific listen.<br/>As others have noted, the British narrator is distracting, but I think we are always supposed to bear in mind that this is written from a British<br/>point of view. I will try to get used to him (I see he has read all the books in the series.) because I like Bruno, and I especially like Walker's historical approach so much!<br/>

What a pleasure! A well written & enjoyable mystery without explicit sex or crime scene descriptions. A little romance is welcome though along with French history, contemporary social lessons, & justice. The love of French food & culture is evident & sure threads woven into the story. I learned about an aspect of French WWII history unknown to me. Every country has dark times & knowing of them may keep everyone humble.

Where does Bruno, Chief of Police rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd put it in among the top 25% of the books I've listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

Without seeming frenetic, a lot goes on in this story, and even the minor characters are well defined. And Bruno is a rarity among men; he's content with his life, even as he is open to new experiences.

What does Robert Ian MacKenzie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His pacing, as always, is very measured, which makes it easy to visualize each scene.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wouldn't say my reaction was extreme. But I was very happy to find an affable character to follow through a series of books, and to discover another author whose narrative style fits like a comfortable glove.

Any additional comments?

If I didn't know who the author was, I'd have sworn this must have been written by Alexander McCall Smith. It's uncanny how similar Walker and McCall Smith are in style, tone, pacing, character development and philosophy. <br/><br/>Within this book some serious subjects are confronted: racism, xenophobia, murder, rape, wartime atrocities, drugs, love, friendship, loyalty, and morality, yet they are considered and discussed without being preachy.

I thought the idea of this book was great. I learned a lot about Algerians who came to France just before and during WWII and their various roles during the war. However, I thought that there was too much extraneous, superficial detail that lent nothing to the mystery. I did not need to know each volley of a tennis match among unnecessary characters. The food of the region was interesting, but I didn't need to listen to each detail of its preparation. By the time the murder was solved, I felt too LITTLE was said about the solution and I was not satisfied with the resolution. I wouldn't read (or listen) to another book in this series.